LIVED ON THE FRONTIER DURING INDIAN TIMES, Page #0132

Mr. West made twelve successive trips over the trail from the coast of Texas to
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and other Northern markets with large herds of Texas
cattle. His first trip was in 1871—a good many trips for a boy to
make without break, and he didn't ride in any automobiles on these trips.

LIVED ON THE FRONTIER DURING INDIAN TIMES

By Joe F. Spettel, Rio Medina, Texas

I was born in the Haby Settlement in 1856, and have lived in Medina County all my
life. My parents were

Castro colonists and came to this country in 1844, locating in the
Haby Settlement. My father, John Spettel, was a "Forty-niner," and went to seek
his fortune in the California gold fields. He, with two companions, made quite a
lucky strike, but in returning homeward they were overtaken by a band of
robbers, his companions were killed and father received a bullet wound which
eventually caused his death, although he lived for several years afterward. He
came home and remained a while, and again went to California, but did not find
mining so successful as on his former trip. However, he brought back some gold
nuggets that are still in the possession of our family.